Florida Woman Arrested for Treating Over 4,400 Patients While Posing as a Nurse
Flagler County Sheriff: “This woman potentially put thousands of lives at risk”
PALM COAST, Fla. — In one of the most brazen cases of medical fraud in recent Florida history, a 29-year-old woman was arrested this week after allegedly impersonating a licensed nurse at AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway and providing medical care to more than 4,400 patients without the proper credentials. Authorities say she forged documents, stole a nurse’s identity, and deceived the hospital for over seven months.
The Imposter Nurse
The suspect, Autumn Bardisa, was initially hired by the hospital in July 2023 as an Advanced Nurse Technician a role typically filled by those on the path to becoming a registered nurse, but who are not yet licensed. Bardisa claimed she was an “education-first” nurse, meaning she had completed nursing school and was awaiting licensure. But officials say that was a lie.
Instead of presenting legitimate credentials, Bardisa allegedly used the nursing license number of another woman with the same first name, who worked at a separate AdventHealth location and had attended nursing school with Bardisa. The two were not known to be close acquaintances, but Bardisa is accused of exploiting this thin connection to steal the nurse’s professional identity. She explained her different last name by claiming she had recently married a claim she never substantiated with documentation.
The Discovery
The deception unraveled in January 2025, when Bardisa was being considered for a promotion to charge nurse, a senior role with significant responsibility over patient care and team coordination. During a routine credential check, a colleague noticed that Bardisa’s license was actually a long-expired Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license far from the active RN credential she claimed to hold. Hospital administrators launched an internal investigation that confirmed Bardisa never verified her identity and had never passed the national nursing exam. She was immediately terminated, and the hospital contacted the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, triggering a multi-agency investigation.
The Patient Impact
Between June 2024 and January 2025, Bardisa worked directly with 4,486 patients, according to documents reviewed by the Florida Department of Health and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While Bardisa operated under the supervision of registered nurses, she still had direct contact with patients and contributed to their medical care raising serious concerns about patient safety, liability, and systemic breakdowns in credential verification.
“This woman potentially put thousands of lives at risk by pretending to be someone she was not and violating the trust of patients, their families, AdventHealth, and an entire medical community,” said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly in a sharply worded statement. “This is one of the most disturbing cases of medical fraud we’ve ever investigated.”
The Charges
Bardisa was arrested Tuesday at her home in Palm Coast after a warrant was issued for seven counts of practicing a healthcare profession without a license and seven counts of fraudulent use of personal identification charges that correspond to the seven months she allegedly worked as a nurse without proper certification. She is currently being held in the Flagler County jail on a $70,000 bond. Officials say the investigation remains ongoing and that additional charges may be filed, especially if evidence emerges of patient harm.
A Systemic Breakdown
While the arrest brings some accountability, the case raises serious questions about hospital oversight and the credential verification process in Florida’s healthcare system. Despite working in a clinical setting for months, Bardisa managed to slip through multiple levels of background checks, evade identity verification protocols, and obtain a position that allowed her to work with thousands of patients.
“Thanks to great investigative work between our detectives and State Attorney R.J. Larizza’s Office and AdventHealth, along with our state and federal partners, she’ll now be held accountable for her reckless and dangerous actions,” Staly added.
What Comes Next
AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway has not publicly addressed whether it has notified the affected patients or if any were harmed by Bardisa’s actions. Legal analysts say the hospital could face civil lawsuits if patients allege injuries or negligence tied to her care. The Florida Department of Health has not commented on whether systemic changes to hiring and verification procedures are being considered, but public trust has clearly been rattled. The case serves as a stark warning for hospitals and healthcare providers across the country: Credential fraud is not just an administrative oversight, it’s a threat to public health.
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